Glass LED light bulbs

Abstract

A glass LED bulb, which includes a body of glass, the body having at least one hollow portion, and at least one LED contained within the at least one hollow portion. A thermally conductive material is preferably included within the at least one hollow portion. The body of glass can be bulb-shaped or alternatively shaped like an incandescent bulb.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A glass LED bulb comprising:
 a solid body of glass, the body having at least one hollow portion formed therein; 
 at least one LED contained within the at least one hollow portion; and 
 a thermally conductive material within the at least one hollow portion,
 wherein the thermally conductive material fills the at least one hollow portion. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the body of glass has a bulb-shape. 
     
     
       3. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the body of glass has an incandescent bulb-shape. 
     
     
       4. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive material is a fluid, a gel or a plastic. 
     
     
       5. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said fluid, gel or plastic is optically transparent. 
     
     
       6. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said fluid, gel or plastic contains means, or is itself the means, to disperse and/or to color shift the light. 
     
     
       7. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said fluid, gel or plastic is electrically insulating. 
     
     
       8. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said fluid contains a means to gel when exposed to air. 
     
     
       9. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said fluid, gel or plastic is hydrated polyacrylimide. 
     
     
       10. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said fluid, gel or plastic provides mechanical relief for the glass. 
     
     
       11. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hollow portion comprises a plurality of hollow portions having interconnections. 
     
     
       12. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said interconnections are used to interconnect said at least one LED. 
     
     
       13. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a power source for the LEDs, which is included in the bulb. 
     
     
       14. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said power source for the LEDs is compatible with pre-existing power sources, permitting the bulb to be used in pre-existing fixtures. 
     
     
       15. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said bulb-shaped body of glass contains means to disperse and/or means to color shift the light. 
     
     
       16. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said means to disperse the light is bubbles in said glass. 
     
     
       17. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said means to disperse the light is a collection of Mie scatterers in said glass. 
     
     
       18. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said means to color shift the light is a dye in said glass. 
     
     
       19. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said means to color shift the light is a collection of Rayleigh scatterers in said glass. 
     
     
       20. A glass LED bulb as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein interconnections between the at least one LEDs is made on a printed circuit board.